Piptochaetium jubatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 10–25 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 3 secondary veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; equilateral, or nodding; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 1 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 5.5–6 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 5–5.5 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2.8 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex with a membranous corona and surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; bigeniculate; 18–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5–7 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long; retained within floret.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Parodi 1995.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.